The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the worldwide governing physique for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, in the present day introduced the winners of the primary UN Tourism Awards for Excellence in Sustainable Sports Tourism, powered by the FIA.
Announced at a ceremony in Madrid, forward of this weekend’s ABB FIA Formula E CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix, the winners demonstrated management and innovation throughout key areas in sustainable tourism, showcasing environmental, social and financial influence, governance, scalability, and long-term legacy.
Most Sustainable Sport Event
- Winner: Secto Rally Finland – Pioneering ISO 20121 & Spark the Future Sustainability Forum (AKK Sports Ltd., Finland)
Community Impact in Sports Tourism
- Winner: Salomon Cappadocia Ultra Trail (Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency & Argeus Travel & Events, Türkiye)
Innovation in Sports Tourism Development
- Winner: Saalfelden Leogang – Nature-Driven Performance in Eco-Friendly Mountain Bike Tourism (Saalfelden Leogang Touristik GmbH, Austria)
Outstanding Public-Private Parntership in Sports Tourism
- Winner: MadCup Universe (MadCup S.L., Spain)
FIA President’s Exceptional Award
- Winner: Tirana – European City of Sports 2023 (Municipality of Tirana, Albania)
UN Tourism Secretary-General Exceptional Award
- Winner: WRC UENO Rally of Paraguay 2025 (SENATUR, Paraguay)
FIA President and UN Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in Sport, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, commented: “The variety and high quality of our inaugural winners highlights the rising international momentum behind sustainable sports activities tourism. These awards rejoice sport’s constructive influence as a driving drive of innovation, sustainable improvement, and financial development, and collectively with UN Tourism, we’re setting new benchmarks for sustainability whereas constructing a future the place sport continues to unite individuals throughout borders.”
A total of 70 applications were submitted by organisations worldwide, including federations, tourism boards, governments, NGOs, companies and universities, with 28 shortlisted for the final, where the winners were selected by a seven-member jury of experts.
A joint initiative between UN Tourism and the FIA, the awards recognise the projects and events that are successfully integrating sport and tourism with sustainable development.
Running annually from 2025 to 2028, awards ceremonies will alternate between UN Tourism and the FIA, with the next edition taking place at the FIA General Assemblies Week in Shanghai this December.
UN Tourism Secretary-General, H.E. Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais said: “When UN Tourism and the FIA signed the Memorandum of Understanding in 2024, we dedicated to advancing collectively a extra sustainable sports activities tourism business. Last night time, that dedication grew to become a actuality with the inaugural ceremony for the Awards for Excellence in Sustainable Sports Tourism. This milestone proves that our collaboration is now a worldwide platform recognizing sustainability, innovation, and neighborhood influence, turning our shared imaginative and prescient into a robust legacy for the sector.”
As the governing body for the world of motorsport, the FIA and its 245 Member Clubs are driving innovation in sports tourism across nearly 150 countries. Through its six FIA World Championships and races held around the world, the FIA is expanding global engagement and participation in motorsports, driving accessibility for all.
At the pinnacle of motorsport, the FIA is supporting over 190 organisations and all its championships in the transition to clean energy, with every FIA Formula One Championship team achieving a 3-star rating in the FIA Environment Accreditation Programme.
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For media enquiries please contact:
· Geraldine Sherwin, FIA Director of Communications (Presidential & Automotive Mobility): [email protected]
About the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the governing physique for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation dedicated to driving innovation and championing security, sustainability and equality throughout motor sport and mobility.
Founded in 1904, with workplaces in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings collectively 245 Member Organisations throughout 5 continents, representing hundreds of thousands of street customers, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces rules for motor sport, together with six FIA World Championships, to make sure worldwide competitions are secure and honest for all.